Thursday, 10/1/15: Breaking Out Briefly to Weave in the Wiser

* Open

• Vote for your King and Queen

• Mitigate (verb)
• to lessen in severity or harshness; to moderate
• Latin: mitis "gentle, soft"  + root of agere "do, make, act"
• Examples (copy either one):

"When we protect children from every possible source of danger, we also prevent them from having the kinds of experiences that develop their sense of self-reliance, their ability to assess and mitigate risk, and their sense of accomplishment." -- Gever Tulley

"There is no dealing with great sorrow as if it were under the control of our wills. It is a terrible phenomenon, whose laws we must study, and to whose conditions we must submit, if we would mitigate it." -- Joseph Le Fanu

Now create your own example with an opening clause or phrase.

Today, we need some Chesterton before we go on.




Period 6 and 7 Only

Journal: Sir Gawain and the Jolly Knight (G. K. Chesterton)

• First:  Some people think that we should not read tales like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight because such fiction fills our minds with false fears, superstitions, or lies.  Let's read a bit by G.K. Chesterton on fairy tales. 
• Questions from fairy tales
• 1.  Chesterton is saying that fairy tales (such as SGGK) are ________ for children to read (choose one)
• a. bad
• b. fine, ok
• c. good 
• d. very good

• 2.  Defend your answer above with three examples.  

• Second:  Consider Chesterton's thoughts on fragments.
• 3.  What are the chief problems with staring blankly at others?
• 4.  What is the chief problem with modernity or the modern world?
• 5.  (Based on your answer in #4.)  Find of a subject, school of thought, or aspect of modern life that seems to have gotten fragmented from the larger picture, and that fragmented version of what once was more whole and wholesome is proving now to be hurtful or inhumane? Explain.
• 6. How does staring blankly at something relate to fragments and wholeness?  Why would he open an essay on fragments that way?  How might "staring blankly at things" be a way of redeeming ourselves or the world for a more humane life?
• 7. Remember, in Part II of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, where Gawain's virtues are fold-five held in balance--one cannot dominate the others?  How does Chesterton's idea about fragments relate to Gawain?  What does the conclusion of Sir Gawain (end of Part III and Part IV) mean for the balance of his virtues?

HW: Come to 1940 Bonita Ave., in Aptos tonight at 6pm!  You will receive class credit (or you may attend another literary event of your choice over the next few weeks, or enter a contest).